Cultivator.



A. J. COMPTON.

GULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

Patented NOV. 10, 1908.

2% Vi Leases UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. COMPTON, OF CEDAR GROVE, NORTH CAROLINA.

CULTIVATOR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application filed. March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,7 50.

of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art 'to which it apperta'ins to make and use the same.

The implement constituting the subject of this invention is a cultivator for working bedded land by means of scra es.

It is particularly adapted or the cultivation of tobacco, the successful growin of which requires frequent tillage to expose resh surfaces and in such manner as to, protect the roots of the plants and leave the land in condition to shed water, so as to avoid sobbing of the ground by rain which often destroys the fertilizer and'drow'ns the plants.

The implement is likewise adapted for cultivation of various other plants which are grown in ridges or hilled rows.

The invention will hereinafter he first fully described by reference to the accom-- panymg drawings, which form 'a part of this specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In said drawings, wherein correspondin parts: in the difli'erentfigures are designate by the same reference symbols; Fi ure 1 is a plan view of an implement embo yin my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitu inal section,'showing one-half of the cultivatorframe and attached blades or scrapes in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a back view or rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fragment of the cultivator-frame, showing the blades or scrapes set to throw the earth away from the plants, as distinguished from the position of the blades represented in the preceding figures where they are shown set to throw the earth up the hills or toward the opposite rows of plants'between which the cultivator is runnin Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of modi%ed forms of cultivator blades.

The cultivator-frame, which is substantially triangular in form, comprises two side-bars A, A, arranged oppositely inclined or oblique to the center line of draft so as to diverge rearwardly. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, each side-bar A is in the form of a series of steps, ascending rearwardly, and to the several. steps are respectively attached the shanks B of the cultivator' blades or scrapes C. By this construction, the front cultivator blades or scrapes rundown in the center of the furrow or between the'beds of plants while the others gradually ascend the hills or beds at opposite sides. At the same time, the iramc as a whole and the individual cultivator blades maintain a correct position.

' The-scrapes or blades are so secured that they can be axially adjusted. and can be set to work either outward or inward, that is throw the soil up the hills and toward the opposite rows of plants or away from the hills toward the bottom of the intervening trench or furrow. For this purpose, the shanks B of the blades are shown having redueed threaded'upper ends 7) which pass up through apertures in the strap-iron sidc-. bars A and are secured rigidly by nuts 7r and jam-nuts Z). By loosening the nuts. an

axial ad .stmcnt can be readily and quickly given to each standard or shank, according to the direction or angle at which the scrapes 'are to be operated.

While the implement is primarily d csigned for cultivation by means of scrapes, yet other forms of cultivatorblades may be substituted. For example, if deeper tillage is desired, narrow hoe-blades such as shown in Fig. 5 may besubstitutcd, or, if desired. the front blades of the implement may be according to Fig. 5, while the other blades may consist of scrapes such as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Fig. 6 shows a longer scrape which may be advantageously used on the back ends of ii 10 side-bars A to carry the earth up to the plants.

The front converging ends of the framebars A are attached to the short tongue or link D, or they may be joined to any suitable clevis-head, towhich the horse or team is hitched in the ordinary manner. As the cultivator-frame is intended to be adjusted "attached by other means.

shown lapping under'the link D and the other lapping over it, so as to avoid interference between thefront ends of the side "bars when they are moved laterally for adof sai justing the width of the frame. For the purpose of adjustment, the, rear ends of the side bars A are shown connected by a s reader or extensible member consisting of at-bars E having overlapping portions and o t-holes e by provided with a plurality of means of which they can-be fastened at various positions with a bolt 6 An arch or yoke .member F spans the hind arch bein upon the rear en s of the side bars A. This arch consists preferably of strap-irom the flexibility of which is sufficient to permit distending of the arch when the cultivator frame is widened. bolted or fastened to the sides of said arch and their front ends are attaohcd by bracketirons g to the front beams a. The bolts w ich fasten the front and rear cultivator blades are or may be respectively utilized for attachment of the bracket-irons g and the feet of the yoke F.

It will be seen that the implement will cultivate the bedded plants by 'scrapin .oif the inclined surfaces of the hills-at a slight depth and substantially even from the center of the furrow to the top portions of the ,ridges; so as to permit frequent cultivation to break the soil and give fresh surfaces, but without liability of in uEy to the roots of the plants; whilethe groun isalso left in com ition, to shed the water, in case of rain. i

In practice, I have found that tobacco cultivated by' this implement is of sturdier growth and better quality, and worth a methods of cultivation.

higher price, than when worked by ordinary part of the cultivator frame, the legs.

fastened to and mounted The handle-bars G are ortioifs of the side- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cultivator for working bedded land having opposite obliquely arranged and stepped setsof cultivator-scrapes whichdiverge and at the same time ascend rearwardly, and means whereby the scrapes individually. can be -axially-adjusted 'and arranged to throw the soil down toward the center of the furrow or up'toward the opposite rows of lants vator is wor ing.' v

2. In a cultivator for working bedded land, a cultivator-frame which comprises opposite side-bars obli uely arranged to diland, a cultivator-frame co'm rising oppo-' site side-bars arran ed oblique y and stepped to diverge and attl iesame-timeasoend rearwardly,'and cultivator-bladespr scrapes the shanks of which are attached to the successive steps ofsaid bars, said shanks being axially adjustable to permit setti E the blades or scrapes so as to operate at di erent anglesi 4. In a cultivator, a frame com rising opposite side-bars arranged oblique y'and converging toward the front,'means ivotally- 'con'nect1ng the front ends of sai bars, an

extensible member joining the rear ends of said bars, a flexible yoke or arch mounted on the rear portions of said bars and s anning said frame, and inclined handlears fastened to the sides of said arch and having their-forwardends attached to the front portions of said side-bars.- In testimony whereof I aflix' my signature, 1n presence. of two witnesses.

' ANDREW .J; coqMrro Witnesses: B. C. PATTON,

A; O. ELLIs.

- 70 3. In a cultivator for. working bedded J 

